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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

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  1. Martin Thomas

    Has that day finally arrived? No breeding hen harriers in England.

    http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/2013/06/04/has-that-day-finally-arrived/ It was bound to happen one day soon. Read the article and lament the total loss of breeding hen harriers from England. What a sickening epitaph. 'The Skydancer. The most persecuted bird of prey in the country'. The principle...
  2. Martin Thomas

    Wing tagged osprey, Cumbria

    Whilst at the Whinlatter visitor centre I was told of two independent sightings of an osprey with white wing tags seen in the Lake area. The spots came two weeks apart, one by a local professional natural historian and the second by two birders who had visited the viewpoint mid week. The former...
  3. Martin Thomas

    Grizedale Red kite news

    An update has been posted about the imminent release of the first year release of birds and can be found here. Please see the Bids of Prey section here for a thread on the subject.
  4. Martin Thomas

    Pre-release Red kites settling into life in the Lake District

    As reported here the Lake District red kites are settling into their new home prior to release shortly. The latest news can be found here.
  5. Martin Thomas

    North of England Pine Marten Survey - help required

    On the back of the recent news that pine martens have been discovered not to be extinct in Northumberland The Vincent wildlife Trust are looking for bodies to assist with their ‘Great North Pine Marten Pursuit’ – an ambitious ‘coast to coast’ series of research, survey and conservation...
  6. Martin Thomas

    Human virus found in squirrels

    Disturbing news here. Not sure who should be most disturbed though.
  7. Martin Thomas

    Help with Clytus species i.d.

    Attached seen in small groups of 3 or 4 on yellow iris flowers during recent warm weather here in Cumbria, UK. It appears to be a longhorn beetle but markings are similar but different from the well known wasp beetle. Can anyone suggest a species (or alternative genus if I'm mistaken) please?
  8. Martin Thomas

    New Red Squirrel Protection Charity

    The BBC reported here that HRH Prinnce Charles "is due to visit Cumbria to launch a national charity dedicated to protecting red squirrels. The Red Squirrel Survival Trust (RSST) has been established to ensure the survival of the native red squirrel, an endangered species, in the UK." What a...
  9. Martin Thomas

    White tailed sea eagle in Cumbria

    Possibly for the first time in 200 years a (juvenile) sea eagle has been seen off the north Cumbrian coast on the Solway estuary. A colleague of mine, Dr Roy Armstrong made the discovery early this morning. Ironically Roy made a prediction to me in 2003 that the WTSE would return and ulitmately...
  10. Martin Thomas

    Origins of British Black squirrel discovered

    Interesting news of the findings here. It would be interesting to know whether the blach morph can also carry the squirrel pox virus.
  11. Martin Thomas

    Why Shooting Times rejected RSPB hotline advert

    A nice try on the part of the RSPB but I wonder if they realistically thought it would get published? Details here.
  12. Martin Thomas

    Pine martens return to England and Wales

    Fabulous news here that pine martens have returned to England and Wales nearly 15 years after they were officially declared extinct in those countries but I fear game keepers et al. won't see it that way. I'm aware that pine martens predate on birds and small mammals but they co-existed for a...
  13. Martin Thomas

    The facts about prosecutions for raptor persecution

    'Scandal as raptor killers beat justice' Scotsman article can be found here Another collection of disgusting statistics highlighting the fact that the British judiciary are (ahem... allegedly) either incredibly naive or totally corrupt in these cases. Those who enjoy killing for fun and their...
  14. Martin Thomas

    More English hen harrier persecution

    'Illegal threat' to hen harriers BBC news article regarding yet more persecution in England in 2008 here.
  15. Martin Thomas

    'Pathetic’ response to disappearing hen harriers

    From the Sunday Herald article here. 'Meetings with landowners had "descended into farce" after one apologised for arriving late because he had been "shooting a couple of hen harriers", [Kenneth] Sludden [secretary of the South Strathclyde Raptor Study Group] said. A gamekeeper also allegedly...
  16. Martin Thomas

    Despair at the "Last flight of the hen harrier"

    Read this and weep. I'm ashamed to be of the same species as people who shoot birds for fun. It's quite clear they won't be satisfied until hen harriers are extinct in the UK (and all in the name of 'sport').
  17. Martin Thomas

    Group of 200 killer whales off Scotland

    Scientists researching the abundance of orcas in Shetland's waters have spotted the largest group so far with up to 200 sighted, 50 miles east of the isles. Full story here. Another news report of the rising number of UK sightings can be found here.
  18. Martin Thomas

    Poison site eagle chick thrives

    Some good news this time (on the back of last year's bad).
  19. Martin Thomas

    Hunt as protected bird found shot

    Sorry to post yet more depressing news... At least this one has managed to survive.
  20. Martin Thomas

    BirdLife [Malta] report reveals increased levels of illegal hunting

    BirdLife report reveals increased levels of illegal hunting compared to same season last year. The depressing report is here with a destressing video of lesser spotted eagle being killed here.
  21. Martin Thomas

    Ray of hope for the red squirrel

    From the BBC article here A ray of hope has been offered for one of the UK's most iconic and endangered animals. Scientists have found that some red squirrels have developed immunity to a disease that has ravaged their numbers. The pox is transmitted by grey squirrels; but while greys...
  22. Martin Thomas

    Over 20,000 grey squirrels are culled (UK)

    News article here on the ongoing cull in the north east of the UK. Good to see the reds are already returning.
  23. Martin Thomas

    UK Red Squirrel Week 4-12 October 2008

    Details of this year's red squirrel awareness and monitoring week can be found here. Further information from the Save Our Squirrels organisation in the north of England can also be found here.
  24. Martin Thomas

    Estate owner loses £100,000 for poisoning birds of prey

    A wealthy Scottish fund manager who owns an extensive grouse moor has been given the largest ever financial penalty under farming legislation after police found toxic and illegal pesticides on his estate. News articles here and here. For once a serious result but the fines were derisory as usual.
  25. Martin Thomas

    Carl Zeiss developing lenses for Canon cameras

    News article here. Better start saving today if you want one at these estimated prices.... ;)
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